SNARES: Watch out for pet friends

Published:06:00Sunday 15 May 2016

Lock up your pets!

Of course, it shouldn’t be necessary, but at this time of the year a shocking number of dogs and cats are mutilated, or suffer a long and painful death,when they are caught in wire snares set by gamekeepers on shooting estates.

The intended victims are foxes, which the estate owners want to eliminate in order to protect pheasants, grouse, partridges, and other game birds, which they are breeding for the sole purpose of becoming targets for fee-paying shooting parties.

Every 20 seconds an animal is caught in a snare, but only a quarter of them are the intended quarry (foxes). The majority are hares, badgers, deer, otters, and perhaps most distressingly, pet dogs and cats.

Your readers will be shocked to hear that the UK is one of only five European countries to still allow snaring. We urge the Government to ban it.

If you have witnessed or been affected in any way by snaring, please get in touch with our Animal Crimewatch Line on 01483 361108.

Bill Oddie OBE

Wildlife campaigner and Vice President of the League Against Cruel Sports